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Thursday, April 6, 2017

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS

THINKING ABOUT: Max is usually pretty shy, but he met a five-year-old girl named, Anna, this past Monday at the park and he hasn't stopped talking about her since. Can you say OBSESSED? Every morning he asks to go to the park to see Anna and he insists we bring extra toys and snacks for her. It's incredibly adorable until we get home after he's played with his new bestie and refuses my assistance. He only wants to be around Anna. I initially found it cute until I told Flyboy about her and he referred to her as Max's girlfriend. NOOOOOOOO! Stop that, right NOW! He's TWO!!! Sigh. I couldn't help but break out in a sweat and put my fingers in my ears to drown out the nonsense. Yes, she's a girl. And yes, she's his friend. But she's NOT his girlfriend. Nope. We will have NONE of those shenanigans until it's time for Max to pick out a college. Oy! I swear I got a whole new patch of grey hairs from that conversation.

THANKFUL FOR: Did I tell you that my grandparents (dad's side) will be visiting D.C. while Max and I are there?! I'm so excited and beyond grateful for this opportunity. It's not often that we get to have family together like this since we're all spread out across the country. While I wish my sister and Flyboy were going to be there to join us for Easter, I think it's going to be a great chance for Max to get to know his great-grandparents—much like I was blessed to get to know mine when I was younger. Growing up I never realized what a rare gift this is, but I have very fond memories of both my mom and dad's grandma and grandpa. I didn't get to be around them a lot, but the time spent together had a lasting effect and they still hold a very dear space in my heart. Ever since my mom's dad passed away last year, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how much he would have delighted in Max's wily ways and I wish we could have had more time together. For this reason, it means the world to me that I'll get to share Max with my grandparents. They check in often via text and ask for Max updates, so it will be pretty sweet to see them interact in person.

WATCHING: A few weeks ago, while Max and I were headed to a park in town, I spotted a man pushing a lawnmower with several carts and balloons attached. He was standing in a turning lane on one of the main roads in Swell Rio. It was definitely a rare sight, so I grabbed my phone and snapped a photo to send to family. Perhaps some of you may remember it being featured in an old Instagram Story?? What in the world could he be up to?! Well, I humbly learned a little more about the man locals refer to as Chito this past week, and I'd be remiss if I didn't share this video with you. His story is beautiful and inspiring! If you have a moment, please watch.

EATING: Go on and roll your eyes if you want, but I promise THIS Honey Mustard Chicken Chopped Salad via How Sweet Eats is a total game changer. You guys, it's goooooooood! In fact, if Flyboy was down with it, I'd want to make this multiple times a week. The flavor of the broiled chicken is fantastic and the vinaigrette is so simple it's stupid—but only in the most delicious way possible!

LISTENING TO: Someone told me that when you turn thirty your body will just begin aching in places you didn't realize was possible. I was reminded of this yesterday morning while working out and listening to Pandora. My neck was killing me, and I began feeling sharp pains during the first climb. A popular Jay-Z song was playing in the background and I noticed it said the single was released in 2004. What?! How?! In that moment, I felt really old. Oddly enough, the pain went away shortly after my workout. Now I'm starting to wonder if the aches were just a ramification of me getting that Dirt Off Your Shoulder (well, my shoulder) with so much gusto??

READING: As a longtime fan of Anne Lamott, I ordered her latest book, Hallelujah Anyway, despite getting mixed reviews. Have you read it yet? Much like Glennon Doyle Melton and Brene Brown, Anne's work has never let me down. As Heidi Stevens, a reporter for The Baltimore Sun, so perfectly put it, "Anne Lamott is my Oprah. She's my pastor, my life coach, my book club leader and my personal trainer (except with words instead of reps: Ten more! You're almost done!). So if she wants me to practice mercy, by golly, I'll try. 'Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy,' released Tuesday, is a clarion call to the better angels of our nature: Rise up. Forgive. Show a little grace, will ya?" Tell me, how could this book possibly go wrong?! We can all benefit from words like these:

"Mercy means compassion, empathy, a heart for someone's troubles," Lamott writes. "It's not something you do — it is something in you, accessed, revealed, or cultivated through use, like a muscle. We find it in the most unlikely places, never where we first look."

LOVING: You know how Starbucks has the Spring cups and I really wanted a yellow one with a smiling sunshine?! Well, last Saturday we went through the drive-thru on our way to a craft fair downtown and I gave Flyboy my order. I'd given up on the notion of getting the mystical unicorn I pined about in this post and told him I'd take an Iced Grande Caramel Macchiato. Somewhat confused, he went on to ask, "But what about the sunshine cup?" I told him I was over it, but he insisted on asking for one on my behalf. Well folks, it turns out our local store is out of the Spring cups, but the dialogue between my husband and the barista was an absolute riot! I still can't believe he gave it a shot and asked for me—the girl that took our order was so confused. Sigh. I was honestly embarrassed for him, but it was just so stinkin' sweet that he tried. Almost nine years of marriage and this darling man is still pulling out all the stops.

Enough about me. How are you feeling today? What are you up to? Thanks for stopping by!!

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